Schefter: Sense is Broncos will deal WR Thomas by Oct. 30 deadline
Oct 22, 2018, 4:07 PM | Updated: 4:10 pm
Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or sometime within the next week, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said his sense is that the Denver Broncos will deal Demaryius Thomas.
“I won’t be surprised if Demaryius Thomas is traded here at some point in the next eight days,” Schefter told Big Al and DMac on Monday. “We’ll see where he goes. But there are certain people you can just see the writing on the wall for right now.”
Among the reasons Schefter believes the Broncos will trade Thomas is his age (he turns 31 on Christmas Day), he’s making a lot of money ($8.5 million in 2018 and $14 million in 2019), and he has young players pushing for his roster spot (Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton).
“They could get back a pick. His name has come up in other trade discussions. He himself said today he expects and thinks and believes that his time in Denver is coming to an end,” Schefter said.
Thomas said in the locker room on Monday that he’s seen the reports that he’s on the trading block and realizes it’s just the NFL business, especially for an aging wide receiver.
“I’d love to be here. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to make sure I’m ready to play every week, in and out. If I’m here or if I’m with any other team, I’d love to be here,” Thomas said. “I’ve been here my whole career for nine years now. It is what it is. Like I said before, it’s the league, it’s football, and this is what happens.”
As for compensation back for Thomas, Schefter said Monday’s trade that sent Amari Cooper from Oakland to Dallas may have an impact.
“I think the trade today makes it a little bit harder, to be honest with you, because if Amari Cooper goes for a one, what is Demaryius Thomas worth?” Schefter said.
The Cowboys acquired Cooper from the Raiders on Monday for a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.